A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - Penn State University

A Tale of Two Cities – Dickens
After this odd description of his daily routine of employment,
Mr. Lorry flattened his flaxen wig upon his head with
both hands (which was most unnecessary, for nothing could
be flatter than its shining surface was before), and resumed
his former attitude.
“So far, miss (as you have remarked), this is the story of
your gretted father. Now comes the difference. If your father
had not died when he did Don’t be frightened! How
you start!”
She did, indeed, start. And she caught his wrist with both
her hands.
“Pray,” said Mr. Lorry, in a soothing tone, bringing his
left hand from the back of the chair to lay it on the supplicatory
fingers that clasped him in so violent a tremble: “pray
control your agitation a matter of business. As I was saying…”
Her look so discomposed him that he stopped, wandered,
and began anew:
“As I was saying; if Monsieur Manette had not died; if he
had suddenly and silently disappeared; if he had been spirited
away; if it had not been difficult to guess to what dreadful
place, though no art could trace him; if he had an enemy
in some compatriot who could exercise a privilege that I in
my own time have known the boldest people afraid to speak
of in a whisper, across the water there; for instance, the privilege
of filling up blank forms for the consignment of any
one to the oblivion of a prison for any length of time; if his
wife had implored the king, the queen, the court, the clergy,
for any tidings of him, and all quite in vain; then the history
of your father would have been the history of this unfortunate
gentleman, the Doctor of Beauvais.”
“I entreat you to tell me more, sir.”
“I will. I am going to. You can bear it”
“I can bear anything but the uncertainty you leave me in
at this moment.”
“You speak collectedly, and you ARE collected. That’s
good!” (Though his manner was less satisfied than his words.)
“A matter of business. Regard it as a matter of business-business
that must be done. Now if this doctor’s wife, though a
lady of great courage and spirit, had suffered so intensely
from this cause before her little child was born “
“The little child was a daughter, sir.”
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